"Okay, now, let me tell you what happened at that time..."
Captain One-Eyed Dragon drank half a glass of rum with satisfaction and burped again before he began to recall what happened at that time.
"That was more than a month ago. At that time, I was worried about my livelihood. As you know, I was going bankrupt at that time, and I was about to lose the wages of the crew. I was thinking about what would happen. So you can make some quick money?"
Captain One-Eyed Dragon still remembers his predicament at that time. At that time, he was almost finished!
"Who would have thought that by an accident, I would hear the news that there was a reward for transporting urgently needed supplies in Port Royal? Moreover, after signing the contract, I could get a small part of the payment in advance? So, I sailed out to sea, planning to go there to meet Just try my luck and see if I can get some work done.”
The one-eyed captain recalled that the goddess of luck really favored him back then!
More than a month ago, if I hadn't been desperate and had to go to Port Royal, I would have been bankrupt by now, right?
And once it goes bankrupt and the boat cannot afford to maintain it, you will have no choice but to sell it! If that's the case, what's the difference between you now and the homeless people huddled in the dirty street corners outside?
"At that time, this is what happened..."
…
"Captain? Come out quickly, Port Royal has arrived!"
After sailing at sea for more than ten days, the one-eyed Mary Pearl finally arrived at Port Royal on time.
When they were preparing to enter the port, his first mate called him out of the captain's cabin.
As one of the one-eyed dragon's confidants, this first mate also knows the dilemma that their one-eyed captain is currently facing.
If we can't receive the mission in Port Royal this time and make a fortune, I'm afraid this ship will have to be sold at a low price here in Port Royal. After giving the crew severance pay, I'm afraid the captain himself won't even be able to return home. You don’t have much money left, right?
At that time, their one-eyed captain will become a member of the army of bankrupt shipowners and continue to hang out in various ports in the Caribbean until someone hires him or he dies.
This kind of thing happens a lot in the Caribbean and the New World!
But not every ship owner can make money in shipping cargo. When you are lucky, you can make a fortune overnight with just one shipment of cargo. But when you are unlucky, it is still good to lose all your money!
The first mate knew that their one-eyed captain had always had a wish: he had always wanted to earn enough gold coins, and then buy a large farm in the New World and Europe to plant different cash crops, and then, every year, he would take advantage of the opportunity. Monsoon transport back and forth.
With his own farm, he can save a large amount of material purchase costs. In addition, he also has an ocean-going ship. He can make several trips back and forth every year, and he will definitely earn a lot of gold coins!
Then, marry a young lady from a poor little aristocratic family, and slowly live a comfortable and corrupt second half of your life!
This is the highest pursuit of the one-eyed dragon in this life!
However, the first mate felt that under the current circumstances, the possibility of the captain realizing this wish was really slim, let alone that he was still on the verge of bankruptcy.
"This is really a strange thing! Why are there no British tax collectors to collect Hong Kong taxes?"
After the one-eyed dragon's big ship docked at a cargo terminal with the help of the guiding boat, he asked curiously.
Under normal circumstances, at this time, when their ships docked, those greedy British guys should have come to collect taxes long ago, but now, where is their tax officer? Even if it is an empty ship and does not need to collect commodity tax, it should still have to collect port tax and docking fees, right?
"I don't know either, Captain!"
The first mate looked at the trestle and found no tax collector. He could only shake his head helplessly and said that he did not know the situation.
"Maybe...they forgot?"
forget? How can this be? !
Cyclops didn't believe that those rigorous and greedy British people would let go of the port tax and docking fee for such a big sea ship!
It would be nice if they didn't try to find ways to charge a few more shillings in silver coins. How dare you expect them to forget?
Such a large two-masted galenic sailing ship is parked here in the port. As long as they are not blind, they will not miss it! Then don’t expect them to forget!
"Sir! Port Royal is now a free port, and any legal ship owner is welcome to receive the transportation mission! If you receive the mission, then we will not charge any docking fees."
Finally, a port clerk who came to register asked the first mate and registered basic information about the Mary Pearl and his purpose of coming to Port Royal. Before leaving, he turned back and said to Captain Cyclops expressionlessly, This can be regarded as clearing up the other party’s doubts.
"What about the entry tax?"
Captain One-Eyed Dragon quickly asked, is this port entry tax collected by all ports?
"Sir, Port Royal is now a free port. I don't want to repeat it again. Our work is very busy!"
The meaning of a free port is already very obvious. It means that all or most goods can enter and exit duty-free, so the Port Royal employee does not want to go into details.
Originally, they did not even charge docking fees before, but later, in order to facilitate this order, they had to charge docking fees for those ships that came to unload cargo and stayed away for a long time.
And if, like Cyclops, you come to Port Royal to receive a transportation mission, the higher-ups have already issued a message that all fees will be waived! As long as the other party doesn't keep the boat parked at the dock, it's fine.
"You really don't accept it?"
One-Eyed Dragon was a little surprised. I have never heard of any official port in the entire Caribbean that does not collect port taxes and docking fees, right?
Their greedy officials will only take more harshly than the other, and take more! And now, Port Royal doesn’t accept it? When did these vampires become so talkative? Or are they out of their minds? Or do you think you have too much money and nowhere to spend it?
"..."
The registrar glanced at the one-eyed dragon impatiently and said nothing more.
"Why not collect it? Or should we collect taxes elsewhere?"
Just in case, Captain One-Eyed Dragon finally asked.
You know, he has taxes and fees ready to be paid in his pocket now. The amount of money should be just enough.
What if they turned around and said they were fined for tax evasion? Where would I find extra coins to give them? If you don't pay the fine, the ship will be impounded directly!
Therefore, he thought it would be better to confirm again! He only has one last chance now. Either he can make a fortune to relieve his pain, or he will go bankrupt and be completely wiped out! There was no room for him not to be careful.
"..."
The port registration clerk looked back at the one-eyed dragon and made sure that he was a new face and probably didn't know what was going on here. Then he sighed slightly, put away his quill, and closed the registration book.
"See that flag over there? Now, this place no longer belongs to the British Empire."
After pointing to the flags on the city head and the city defense castle in the distance, the port registration clerk pointed to those flags in a complicated tone and said.
"That is……?"
The one-eyed captain looked in the direction pointed by the registrar, and sure enough, hanging on the flagpoles somewhere in the castle, it seemed that it was not the Union Jack symbolizing the British Empire, but an unfamiliar flag?
It has a golden base, and on top are... five fiery red sparks?
Wait...there seems to be something wrong with that flag?
The one-eyed dragon squinted, thinking he had seen it wrong. To confirm, he took out his navigation telescope and looked closely at his only eye. On top of the flag, it seemed... Embroidered with five burning fiery red flames? A burning, moving flame? !
"That
"What the hell are those...those flags?"
The one-eyed dragon looked at the port registrar with a horrified look. He had no idea what the five burning and flowing flame patterns on the flag actually represented!
How could such a thing exist? With the help of the telescope, he was sure that he definitely didn't make a mistake this time!
On those flags, on the golden cloth, there are indeed five moving flames that seem to be burning!
"Ha! Of course it's a flag, what else could it be?"
"Those moving flag patterns are actually caused by the witch's spells. You'll get used to them after seeing them too many times."
The Registrar looked at the expressions of the group with an amused expression.
In his opinion, this ship must indeed be the first time the witches came here after they occupied Port Royal. Anyway, during this period, whenever a ship came to Port Royal, he could always see the other side's face. Seeing such an expression, he was already used to it by now.
"Finally, let me explain to you: now, Port Royal belongs to the witches, and the witches have occupied it! It's that simple!"
"Also, I am no longer an official, just an employee, okay! You must also be here to accept the bounty mission, right? Go to the port office by yourself, and you can handle the rest by yourself. Anyway, you You'll get used to it gradually."
After saying that, the registrar shook his head and left.
He didn't want to care what these people thought, he was used to it anyway. There is nothing wrong with working for a witch. The salary has increased a lot, so who would have trouble with money?
"..."
After being shocked, Captain One-Eyed Dragon began to carefully examine the situation in the port.
He was surprised to find that not only the flags on the distant city wall had changed, but also the clothes of the port officials had changed? They no longer wear the attire of British officials or the wigs that symbolize their status?
Looking at the distance, the soldiers standing guard at the city gate were no longer wearing the red suits of the British Royal Soldiers, but a white-based clothing with many golden stripes that he had never seen before? In addition to muskets, there are also shields and daggers? This is really strange equipment!
"Is this British man's territory really occupied by others? But... it would be too unbelievable to be occupied by a group of witches, wouldn't it?"
Something's a little off here...
Captain One-Eyed Dragon pondered and began to mutter to himself. Although the facts were before his eyes, he always felt that things still seemed too surprising and a bit too fantasy?
"Captain? What should we do next? Are we going to the so-called port office to pick up the bounty transportation mission?"
Seeing that the captain was silent, the first mate began to ask.
He didn't care who occupied this place, it had nothing to do with him! He just wants to know, can people like them make money here?
"No, don't worry yet!"
The one-eyed dragon looked up and looked at the situation around the port again. After thinking about it, he felt that it was better for him to be more cautious, so he turned to the adjutant and said:
"We'll go into the city to repair it for a few days. You can arrange some manpower and find out more about the situation here first and then think about it!"
Captain One-Eyed Dragon did not dare to accept the mission rashly, but planned to repair it for a day or two, and then take the opportunity to find out the specific situation here before making any plans.
"Well, as you like! But, Captain, I have to remind you that we don't have much money left."
The first mate complained to his captain that they really didn't have much money now. In his opinion, it was more serious to accept the task quickly, collect the advance payment, and quickly go to other ports to replenish the goods and ship them back!
"Now there is!"
Captain One-Eyed Dragon threw a small bag of silver coins towards his first mate, which contained more than twenty silver shillings and several gold coins, which were originally intended to pay the port entry tax and docking fees.
"Go, don't forget to check out the situation, and treat the sailors to drinks tonight!"
"Long live the Captain!!"
After hearing the captain's words, the crew members who disembarked cheered, and then they began to walk toward the city surrounded by the first mate.
Although this amount of money is not too much, it is enough for twenty or so of them to drink cheap rum and find a few rooms to rest well for a few days. It is estimated that there is still a lot left over. Buying supplies to go to sea?
"this……"
After seeing the first mate leaving with the sailors, Cyclops was about to go back to the ship to pack his things when he suddenly saw a group of cavalry patrolling towards the port.
They...the ones leading them turned out to be three female knights wearing silver-white tight-fitting metal light armor, golden cloaks, and closed pointed helmets? Even the war horses are covered in armor?
Behind them, there was actually a team of uniformly male cavalrymen wearing silver light armor and swords hanging from their waists?
Looking at such attire, the one-eyed dragon couldn't help but shook his head. In what age are they still playing heavy armored cavalry? It looks good, but what’s the use?
In this day and age, muskets and cannons are the mainstream, right?
Apart from looking good and showing off, what is the use of equipment like theirs? If a fight really breaks out, it will be reimbursed after a few shots, right?
etc!
That was...a female knight just now? There are actually female knights? Moreover, he seems to be an officer?
Captain One-Eyed Dragon suddenly remembered something was wrong, and when he looked back at the retreating cavalry, he was stunned again.
Because the golden cloak they were wearing behind them was different in style from the flags hanging on the city wall. It had a pale gold base, and in the middle, there was only a red flame, and that flame was actually the same as the one on the city wall. Those flags are like flames, can they move? Like it's burning?
What the hell! What exactly is this place? Or is it not Port Royal anymore?
"Who are they?"
In desperation, the one-eyed captain grabbed a dock worker next to him who was carrying supplies, and then asked hurriedly.
"Let go of your hands! One-eyed bastard!"
The dock worker was dissatisfied and swatted away the hand holding his clothes, and then looked the Cyclops up and down.
When he thought that the person in front of him might be a captain, he weighed it in his mind. After seeing that the other person didn't seem to be easy to mess with, he changed his tone slightly.
"Are you new here? Did you see that? The three with red cloaks are the fighting witches of the Flame God Cult! And the ones without cloaks are the Flame Knights of the God Cult's Guardian Knights! I advise you to be the best Don’t cause trouble here in Port Royal, and don’t mess with them, otherwise, you will definitely regret it!”
After finishing speaking, the dock worker cursed and left.
"..."
Captain One-Eyed Dragon did not pay attention to the dock worker who cursed him a few times before turning around and leaving. Instead, he continued to look solemnly at the cavalrymen who were leaving.
Is she really a witch? Armored witch cavalry?
So, what is the Flame God Cult?
I seem to have never heard of the Flame God Cult... The Flame God Cult with five fireballs? Five Fireball God Cult?
If I take over the transportation task and work for them, I wonder if there are any guarantees? What is their credibility? Will the remuneration continue to be paid at that time?
For a moment, Captain One-Eyed Dragon was a little uncertain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
While Cyclops was still hesitating and wondering whether he should accept the bounty transportation mission, outside the port, the clear and urgent sound of the alarm bell from a guard tower on a commanding height came. Soon, the bell slowly spread. Kai Lai, firmly spread throughout the entire city of Port Royal.
"Enemy attack!!!"
The soldiers standing guard on the defensive wall of the port city began to get busy. After seeing that something was wrong, the workers at the dock also dropped their things and began to run quickly into the city.
"Oh, God……"
When the Cyclops turned back to look at the sea, he saw the figures of sailboats slowly appearing on the sea surface in the distance.
They slowly began to emerge from under the sea level. When they began to line up slowly and all appeared above the sea level, Captain Cyclops finally took out his telescope and wanted to see the distant sea. He roughly estimated And after counting, there were probably thirty or forty ships? !
Moreover, it seems that they are all battleships?
Look at the looming flag on the opponent's mast. Is that the British Caribbean Fleet? !
Ruined! It's completely over now!
Captain One-Eyed Dragon lamented in his heart, his own ship was still anchored in the port... And those fleets, in this formation from a distance, were obviously coming to attack Port Royal! So, under the gunfire, wouldn't the Mary Pearl parked in the port be doomed?
"Sigh...Actually, I really shouldn't have decided to come here in the first place..."
Captain Cyclops relaxed his hands and let the telescope in his hand slip down and fall to his feet.
If he hadn't come here in the first place, no matter how bad he was, he could have sold the boat to pay off the crew and pay off all the debts, right?
But now? His ship, his Mary Pearl, was about to be destroyed by gunfire...
